Man steals replica WWII pistol from Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, police say

An unidentified man stole a replica World War II-era pistol from the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage on Friday afternoon, Nassau County police said.

The theft is the first at the Armor Museum since the facility opened more than a decade ago, museum spokesman Gary Lewi said, and it coincided with the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

The man took the pistol, a nonfunctioning replica Colt 1911A1, from a mannequin’s holster and slipped it into the pocket of his shorts before leaving the building, according to police.

The museum used the replica to represent a type of weapon the United States issued Black soldiers during World War II, Lewi said. 

"Part of the unique character of this facility is the ability of visitors to get up close to various operational military vehicles and artifacts," he said, a policy that "reflects a trust between museum staff and visitor."

Lewi added, "The fact that the theft occurred on the anniversary of D-Day reveals a special contempt for our nation’s military heritage and only serves to redouble our efforts to recover the replica and press charges."

The alleged thief has gray hair and a gray mustache, appears to be in his 60s and is around 5 feet 10 inches tall, police said. The suspect wore a green baseball cap with a rifle on it, a gray polo shirt and brown canvas shorts when he took the pistol, according to footage of the incident.

Nassau detectives have promised anonymity to anyone who calls either 911 or 800-244-8477 with information about the theft.

By Brianne Ledda

brianne.ledda@newsday.com@brianne_ledda

Brianne Ledda covers personal finance and affordability for Newsday. She previously covered Southold and Greenport for The Suffolk Times and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.